PSD Grade Configuration Space for Werner Staff

This site has been set up as a place to discuss PSD's K-8 grade configuration possibilities. Please browse around and, if you're interested, add new information to this site, either by clicking "Edit This Page" or by joining the discussion.

Implementation Steps and Considerations for Grade Configuration and Student Based Budgeting Initiatives: A White Paper for Planning Teams (PDF)

Matrix for considering topics for different configuration possibilities.

If you have information to place in the cells of the matrix, please click "Edit This Page" above and enter your information. If you would like to pose questions or other comments, please use the discussion area of this site. Thanks.

	K-8	K-4, 5-8	K-5, 6-8
Transportation costs and travel issues.	Cut in travel time and transportation costs.	Increased cost and travel time for 5th & 6th grade students.	Increased cost and travel time for 6th grade students. I wondered if this is true- if a bus runs already for 7-9 graders- will there be an additional bus for 6th graders or will they be on same bus? Good point--I, too, wonder if transporation costs will increase. The only thing that may change is the number of busses needed to fit all the kids.
Effect on parent involvement			For parents of sixth grade students, the involvement may not be in classrooms; but the opportunity to serve on "School Improvement Teams" is always a possiblity--for those parents who want to stay involved, I believe there will be opportunities to get involved.
Grade-level size affecting course offerings and/or instructional groupings.		PE, Music, Art and Computer classes affected by teachers traveling to different schools, (unless more FTE's are designated for specials teachers to stay at one school or adjusting boundaries to keep student numbers at full time levels) therefore compromising those programs effectiveness.	I would love to read the opinions of sixth grade teachers. Would sixth grade teachers need to specialize in one area, or would they be or would they still be general education teachers? Who would decide who is qualified? Most 6th grade teacher have k-6 endorsements.
Data on student achievement.
Loss of neighborhood schools or school closings.		Reducing enrollment to kindergarten through fourth grade students may result in the closing of some elementary schools. Wouldn't you need some new 5-8 schools? Adding two grade levels to our current Jr. High buildings would not fit if we are only thinking of moving the 9th graders to High School.
Points of transition and articulation.
Interaction between range of grade levels (variety of groupings, mentor students...)
Effect of presence or absence of of older students on younger students.		You would loose some student leadership like Student Council.
Design of school buildings matching grade configuration.	Would need to seriously consider how elementary buildings would adapt to K-8 for the upper grade students. So true. . .elementary computer labs certainly aren't designed to accommodate seventh and eighth grade students.		Are you going to departmentalizing for all subjects?
Anything not noted above??			Would some sixth grade students be better off under the watchful eye of a classroom teacher? As I look back, I can name sixth graders who may have "fallen through the cracks" in a middle/junior high environment. As a sixth grade teacher, I know that some kids need that extra help. That is always going to be true where ever they attend school. I think the more important question is who else do you want your sixth grade child grouped with? 11-14 year olds? 5-12 year olds? 14-18 year olds?

Thank you for your input! If we are missing any implications or need to add more thoughts please let us know!